Toilet structure



1937' o. T. BROWN 2 0 3 5 TOILET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Swan H301:

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July 27, 1937. o. T. BROWN TOILET STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 album 1;

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J 3 .9 rm iw Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED, STATES OFFIQ' '7 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved toilet structure primarily adapted to use on the conventional.outdoortoilets found in rural sections and in the older sections of certain cities. As the disclosure proceeds, however, it will become evident that the invention is in no way limited solely to this one use, but on the contrary may beadapted to all types of toilets wherein an automatic and predetermined opening and closing of a toilet seat cover is desired.

It is generally recognized that the outdoor toilet or vault constitutes a decided menace to health due to its unsanitary and crude construction. Health authorities in many cities and states are now directing their attention toward correction of this condition and standard type toilet enclosures approved by such authorities are now being installed in numerous localities. However, unless some means isprovided for preventing access to the vault proper by carriers such as flies, insects and the like the chief purpose of such construction is defeated and the menace to health remains as before. Due to carelessness or ignorance many users of such toilets fail to close the seat of the same before leavingthe toilet enclosure. In order to correct this condition various inventions pertaining to automatic closures for toilet seats have been devised.

So far as known, however, each of these automatic closure means has certain inherent disadvantages which renders it unsuitable for general usage. In order to afford a practical solution to this problem so that health authorities may require universal compliance with their regulations a closure means must be equally adaptable to use on a toilet enclosure which has already been constructed or to the enclosure as it is first built or installed.

The present/invention provides a solution to these and other problems and has as a chief object the teaching of an improved toilet seat closure adapted for installation on existing toilet enclosures or on a toilet enclosure being constructed. v

A second object is the provision of an automatic actuating meansfor a toilet seat cover operated upon the entrance an'd'exit of the user of the toilet.

A third object is the provision of an improved construction providing ready access to thefloor of the toilet enclosure .for cleaning purposes.

Another object is the provision of an improved construction for holding the toilet seat cover in a raised position.

.A further object is the provision of an improved construction for positively closing the toilet seat cover in a controlled manner;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a plan view of the structure showing one manner of installing the same in a toilet enclosure,

Figure 2 is an elevation view taken along the cover in closed position,

Figure 3 is an elevation view showing the toilet seat cover in raised position,

Figure 4 is a partial elevation view showing therelative location of certain actuating elements,

and

Figure 5 is an end elevation view showing one modification of the invention. v

The toilet enclosure shown in Figure 1 comprises the conventional structure consisting of walls, floor, roof and door, but for convenience only a portion of the same is shown. Spaced side walls I enclose a commode structure 2 communicating with a suitable sanitary vault (not shown) from which extends a vent pipe 3 or the like. Still members 4 located at the front of the enclosure adjacent the space provided for the door extend above the floor 5 and provide an abutment against which one edge of movable treadle member 6 is positioned.

Spacer members I and 8 secured at a desired point on the side walls I by any suitable means 9 provide a support for the actuating mechanism later to be described and serve the purpose of enabling a standard type of assembly to be used upon p-re-constructed or home-made enclosures even though the dimensions of the same may be at wide variances.

Hinged to commode 2 adjacent the rear portion thereof is the conventional toilet seat cover H], which due to its mounting tends to fall into the closed position under the influence of gravity. If no positive actuated mechanism is employed upon covers of this type, the cover normally would be lifted beyond a vertical plane and would rest upon vent 3 thus requiring a positive deliberate action to close the cover. Due to this fact, the user of the toilet often fails to lower the seat cover and as a result the vault remains open resulting in an unsanitary condition. Moreover, with seat covers of this type if the cover is raised only to vertical position, it tendsto close and strikes the user of the toilet in the back ro line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the toilet seat thus giving rise to an uncomfortable disadvantage.

The present invention provides a solution to these problems and yet does not require a change in the seat cover itself or in the mounting thereof. As shown in the drawings, an elongated eccentric rod H is journalled adjacent its center portion in bearings l2 attached to seat cover It for turning movement therein. Rod M is securely journalled near its end into the end of an elongated lever !5 which is pivoted to side walls l by securing means Q. As will be noted, lever I5 is mounted off center so that its unbalanced weight normally is effective to close the toilet seat cover it.

At its other end lever I5 is connected to treadle member 6 through adjustable means it preferably of a flexible nature such as a chain, rope or the like, for a purpose later to be described. As will be noted, treadle 6 covers substantially all of the floor in front of commode 2 and is arranged so that an occupant of the toilet has to step upon the treadle and remain upon the same so long as he is in the toilet. The front edge of treadle 6 normally rests upon floor 5 adjacent sill 4 while the rear edge of the treadle is suspended by adjustable means lfi from lever l5 and normally is raised a short distance above floor 5. Suitable anchoring means such as an open hook H or the like permits the detachment of means Hi from the treadle when occasion requires and the adjustment of the effective length of the same.

customarily, connecting means it will be so adjusted that when the treadle 6 is forced down flush against floor 5, as shown in Figure 3, the seat cover It will be held in a vertical position. By using a suitable length of the adjustable connecting means It, a suitable length of lever is and a suitable eccentric arm H, the seat cover may be raised or lowered rapidly with any desired leverage.

As a practical matter, it is found that especially in the rural sections, the floor of a toilet soon becomes covered with dirt, small stones and similar matter which is carried in on the shoes of the users. Treadle 6 is often made of slats or open spaced members and this dirt falls beneath the same and not only covers the floor, but may also present an obstruction to the movement of the treadle. However, since the present invention provides for the detachment of the treadle from the actuating mechanism it becomes a simple matter to remove the treadle and to clean the floor.

It will be apparent that the seat cover actuating means can readily be mounted upon only one side wall and comprise a single lever l5, chain It and a short rod ll instead of the dual construction as shown. Such a modification is to be understood as being within the scope of the invention, but in the event that an obstruction should become lodged under the treadle 6 near the point of attachment of chain it in such a construction the operation of the structure may be prevented. With a construction as shown, however, treadle 6 is not rigidly connected at any point and may be tipped longitudinally as well as transversely. Consequently, regardless of the location of such an obstruction under the treadle, the toilet seat cover can be operated by an occupant stepping upon an unobstructed portion of the treadle. Since either of the actuating mechanisms attached to the side walls I can actuate the seat cover without assistance from the other mechanism, it follows that the present invention provides a positive movement of the seat cover at all times.

Seat cover It! usually has considerable weight and being pivoted at its rear edge tends to fall by gravity. Likewise, lever 15 and rod it have appreciable weight tending to move the cover to its closed position. While the lifting of the rear edge of treadle 6 provides somewhat of a counterbalance to these unbalanced weights, it is found desirable to use the preponderance of the weight to insure a positive closure of the seat cover. As a result, such a cover tends to slam closed and not only produces an undesired noise but also places stresses on the structure. In order to avoid this it is found desirable to provide a cushioning means and in Figures 1 to 4 one form of such a means is shown.

Rigidly attached adjacent one end of eccentric rod 6 l is an upstanding arm 28 providing a point of attachment for the piston rod of a dash pot 2! which is movably secured at its closed end to lever l5. As shown inFigures 2 and 3, the angle between rod H and arm 2i) remains constant in all positions While the angle between arm 2i! and lever 15 varies according to the position of the seat cover. When the seat cover is lowered under the influence of the unbalanced weight after a user has left the toilet, arm 26 forces the piston into the dash pot and a cushioning action is thereby eifected. It will be noted that the eccentricity of arm 26 with respect to the axis of the dash pot 2! changes during the closing operation and approaches a angle with the axis of dash pot 2! in the closed position of the seat cover. This construction consequently provides that the speed of the cushioning action due to the driving force of the weight exerted on arm 2% approaches a minimum when the seat cover approaches its closed position and as a result there is no possibility of the seat cover being held slightly open until air bleeds from the dash pot. At the same time a violent closing of the seat cover is prevented without sacrificing a positive action of the apparatus. This latter circumstance is due to the fact that the compression of air held within the dash pot reaches its maximum value as the seat cover approaches the closed position so that the speed with which the cover is lowered diminishes at the same time that the compressing force of arm 29 is diminishing.

Among the numerous advantages of the invention as above described it will be seen that in addition to providing a satisfactory mechanical apparatus there is also provided an apparatus adapted for practical usage. Since the actuating mechanism may be constructed in standard sizes and installed upon all types and sizes of toilets merely by varying the thickness of spacers l and 8, it is readily apparent that the use of the invention is not limited to any particular type of toilet. Moreover, the actuating mechanism is located at the sides of the toilet enclosure rather than adjacent the commode structure and as a consequence offers no interference to cleaning of the toilet floors or Walls. Furthermore, the spaced location of the actuating mechanism with respect to the commode insures against the possibility of an occupant such as a child, catching the clothing in the actuating mechanism.

It will be readily apparent that many modifications may be devised to carry out the same objectives without departing from the scope of the invention. One such modification is shown generally in Figure 5 wherein a commode 30 is provided with a seat cover 3| actuated by a ropemeans 32 which connects the seat cover with a movable lever 33 through the action of a pulley member 34. Positioned on floor 35 of the toilet in front of the commode is a treadle member 36 adjustably secured to lever 33 by any suitable means 31.

Lever 33 is pivoted at one end adjacent the front wall of the toilet and at its other end is suspended from the roof of the toiletby a rope 38 in which is interposed a tension spring 39. In this construction, when an occupant enters the toilet, seat cover 3| is raised under influence of his weight resting upon treadle 36. In moving downward to raise the seat cover lever 33 places spring 39 under tension which in turn becomes effective to raise lever 33 and to permit seat cover 3| to fall to closed position when the weight on treadle 36 is relieved at the exit of the occupant. By a suitable adjustment of weights and spring tensions it is found that seat cover 3| will close positively without noise or shock.

Having thus described the invention, it is apparent that numerous changes in design and construction of the same may be employed without departing from the essentials thereof. With the intention, therefore, of including such changesin the above disclosure as will occur to the person skilled in the art,

I claim:

1. In a toilet structure having walls and floor, a commode disposed in spaced relation to said walls, a seat cover hinged to said commode, actuating means secured to said walls and connected to the seat cover, a movable treadle partially suspended above the floor and connected to said actuating means, whereby an occupant entering the toilet is compelled to step upon the treadle and to raise the seat through the action of the actuating means.

2. In combination with a toilet seat cover, an elongated eccentric arm attached adjacent its center to the cover, an elongated treadle member on the floor in front of said seat cover and raised from the floor along one edge, means connecting the treadle member at each end to the corresponding ends of the eccentric arm and adjusted so that the cover may be actuated by the weight of the occupant applied at any point on the raised edge of the treadle member even though an obstruction is present under a portion of the treadle member.

3. In combination with a toilet seat cover, an elongated eccentric arm attached adjacent its center tothe cover, an elongated treadle on the floor in front of said toilet seat, actuating means connecting the treadle at each end to the corresponding ends of the eccentric arm and adjusted so that a portion of the treadle is raised above the floor when the seat is in closed position, and adjustable spacing means securing the actuating means to the side walls of the toilet enclosure, whereby the actuating means for the toilet seat cover may be installed upon pre-constructed toilet enclosures without changing the toilet seat, the seat cover or the toilet enclosure.

4. In a structure of the character described in claim 3, cushioning means interposed between the eccentric arm and the actuating means whereby the toilet seat cover is lowered to closed position without shock.

5. In combination, a toilet enclosure Wall, a toilet seat spaced from the wall and having a seat cover hinged thereto, elongated means attached to the seat cover and terminating at one end adjacent the wall, and movable actuating means supported upon the wall and connected to the end of the elongated means in order to produce the movement of the actuating means at a safe distance from the occupant of the toilet.

6. A toilet enclosure having a Wall, a commode spaced from said wall, a seat cover hinged in an unbalanced position upon said commode, a member attached to said cover and extending a substantial distance therefrom, a treadle disposed in said enclosure in front of said commode, actuating means connecting said member and said treadle, said actuating means being mounted in an unbalanced position so that the unbalanced weight of the cover and of the actuating means normally holds the seat cover in closed position and the treadle in raised position, and adjustable spacing means securing the actuating means to the wall of the enclosure whereby the structure may be installed in various sized toilet enclosures.

'7. In a structure of the character described in claim 6, cushioning means interposed between the actuating means and the member attached to the cover whereby relative movement therebetween may be cushioned to prevent abrupt closing of the seat cover.

OAKLEY T. BROWN. 

